4 Corners
 

We are flying into Las Vegas on May 21 , renting a car, touring Hoover dam and the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
May 22 we drive to Zion, leaving Vegas at 6am.
May 23 we drive to Bryce Canyon at 7am
May 24 we head to Arches
May 25 to Mesa Verde
May 26 to Monument Valley
May 27 we travel the 8 hour drive back to Vegas
May 28 we fly home

My questions are :
Any suggestions for restaurants in those areas?
We are thinking of a convertible. Is that feasible for the road conditions?
We are fast paced , energetic hikers. Is this too much for us to accomplish?
All suggestions and hints are appreciated

Thank you in advance,
Dawn

Dawn

It will probably help a lot of you do a search and read some of the many many posts about the same type of trip.

My opinion is that this is an extremely rushed trip.

Where are you staying when visiting Mesa Verde? I can make a suggest or 2 for that area.

IF you do a search, use Four Corners, not 4

Depending on when your flight gets into Las Vegas you might want to tour Hoover Dam and then head for the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. There is no need to return to Las Vegas until you return the car.
If you are tired after seeing Hoover Dam, have a meal at the Hoover Dam Lodge and then check in to get an early start the next day.
I think I would drop Mesa Verde and go through Monument Valley on the way to Arches.
Do your hiking in Arches and maybe the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands NP.
How many are in your group? Get a large enough car that all the luggage fits in the trunk. You don't want anything stolen from the back seat of a convertible.

You need to spend more time in fewer parks if you really are hikers. The drive from Bryce to Arches is about 5 hours if you go the fastest way, more like 8 hours if you go the most scenic way (rt 12 etc.) Then if you want to hike you could easily spend 2 or 3 days there and another in Canyonlands Island in the sky district.

If you don't have lodging yet, you need to arrange that asap.

<i>IF you do a search, use Four Corners, not 4</i>

Why? "4 Corners" and "Four Corners" gave me the same results.

HTtY

You have planned way too much for the short time you have. You will be so busy driving from here to there that you'll have little time for hiking.

If you decide to eliminate something, make is Mesa Verde which is a very time consuming place. It is a long way in and a long way back out.

Check out Valley of Fire, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands.

When the sun comes out, I see convertibles here in Seattle but not so much on the roads in Utah. There must be a reason.

HTtY

As high energy hikers, I did not see any of your proposed hikes. For example: Zion's Observation Point. Capitol Reef's Cassidy Arch is scenic. Island in the Sky has some serious hikes. Canyonlands Needles District is hiking paradise.

Your itinerary suggests only 'hikes' from car to overlook and back.

Vaga

We are doing a 1-week trip in the same area at the same time as you. After extensive research, I determined that we could only include Zion, Bryce and the North Rim if we wanted to do a lot of hiking. I would have to agree with those that find your trip too rushed.

You should get your itinerary nailed down soon so that you can get your accommodations booked. I made reservations in February and some of my first choices were already booked out.

I'm an avid hiker, though the word energetic may not apply! But I agree with the above, you have no time for hiking as the trip is planned.

You could consider a Zion-Bryce-Capitol Reef loop, but at the very least cut out Mesa Verde and Monument Valley, or add more time.

If you want recos for fast paced, high energy hikes let me know. I'll give you my Bryce/Zion/GC (S rim) list.

One point I think we have overlooked is your 1st day plan.

"We are flying into Las Vegas on May 21 , renting a car, touring Hoover Dam and the north rim of the Grand Canyon. That is not physically possible on May 21. "

Wow. As mentioned above, this is way too much for a short trip. You need AT A MINIMUM two nights for zion, really you will want three. Arches is fantastic but there is so much more in that area, one night is just not enough. In that time frame why not just do a loop of Vegas - Zion - Bryce - Moab. Even that will be rushed and skips Capitol Reef entirely.

Please listen to the advice stating your plan for arrival on May 21 is not a possibility.

Have you mapped this all out? You will spend most of your time in the car and have very little time for the wonderful sites you want to visit.

Very simply, you need to see less places or add more days.

Has dawnclark left the building? We may be talking to ourselves.

At least none of us will take a trip like that!